US2190646A - Optical device - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 20, 1940. E. M. BRAN SON 2,190,646

OPTICAL DEVICE Filed May 21. 1937 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 YOU T ME 5 Z'as/XE/WHaQ/Z E. M. BRANSON OPTICAL DEVICE Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 21, 1957 Patented Feb. 20,1940

UNITED STATES or'ncet new Ellis M. Branson, Orlando, Fla; v Application May 21, 1937, Serial rid-143,923" l 4 (c1. ss- -zsy 9 The present invention relates in general to {an optical device, and is more particularly concerned'with an improved stereoscope of such construction that it may be folded, when not in use, so as to effect a relativelythin package or envelope suitable for mailing, if desired; and which maybe readily unfolded to bring the lenses and associated parts into operative rela tionship, when it is desired to utilize the same.

10 It is also an object of the present invention to provide novel advertising means for disseminating information.

A further object is to provide novel means for entertainment, instruction, and education;

A further object is to provide novel mailable message bearing means and mailable souvenirs.

A further object of the inventionis to provide a simplified and economical means for reproduc ing, transmitting, and preserving natural vision.

Another object is toprovide an improved mailing piece or advertising medium, wherein indicia such as pictures and the like associated there-' with may be viewed in relief. r

A still further object is to provide an optical device of the character described which may be manufactured at a. low cost, which may, be knocked down so as to take up arelatively small space, when not in use; and in which the various parts may be readily moved to, assembled operative relationship, when it isdesire'd to use T lenses respectively disposed for viewing the:

above-mentioned windows. The hinged section is held in operative relation 'to the windows by means of lateralwings hinged to the lateral margins of the envelope, these wings being swingable topositions substantially at right, an-

gles to the envelope and connectible through appropriate means such as tongue and slot connections to the hinged section containingthe lenses, With the device thus set up, various complementary pictures or other indiciamay be disposed in the windows and viewed in relief through the lenses.

In; order to provide means whereby a series of pictures or other indicia: may be displayed, a strip or card having the pictures on its surface is disposed for slid-ingmovement in the envelope. By shifting the'card longitudinally to with- 5 draw it from the open end of-the envelope, the

pictures may be successively brought into view through the windows. When the device is to be knocked down for mailing or other purpose, the lateral wings are l0 wings may be inwardly folded to lappingly over- 15 lie the lenses and associated wing. The three wings thus disposed are heldllll position by an end flap of the envelope'which maybe secured by appropriate meansin a position closing theopen end of the envelopefandoverlying 20 the outermost of the folded wingsp i With the *parts? in knocked-down relationship, a flatmailing piece is formed with ample surfac'e for addressing, etc'., provided.

Other objects and features "of the invention 25 Y will more fully appear from the following detailed description, taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, which illustrate several embodiments thereof, and in which: I

Figure 1' is a plan view looking at one side of 30 e the device, the parts being in knocked-down relationship, and showing the manner in which this side may beutilized for mailing purposes;

Figure 2 is afplanview on the opposite side of the same, showing the manner in which the 35 various wing portions are folded and secured togethen Figure 3 is a plan view of the same showing the device opened up prior to its'being assembled intoioperative positiom. i 40 Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the manner in whichathe wings are assembled and connected with the lenses in op erative position to view the windows of the device;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view on the same, taken substantially on line V--V of'Figure 4; j

Figure 6 isa transverse sectional view of'the same, taken substantially on line VI,VI of Fig 507 ure4;- w a Figure 715 an enlarged fragmentary plan view of 'the indicia carrying strip or card;

Figure 8 is a plan View of a modified form of lens arrangementj and PATENT O FI 1 Figure 9 is a longitudinal sectional view through the same, taken substantially on line IXIX of Figure 8.

As shown on the drawings:

The main body portion of the device is in the form of an envelope having a pocket III which is formed from a single sheet of material by folding the marginal edges upon itself to form a main back portion I I and inwardly extending portions I2 and I3 defining the forward wall of the envelope pocket.

Secured to the outer surface of the portions I2 and I 3 is a single sheet of material having j a main portion I4 which is co-extensive with the envelope portion and which is secured to the portions I2 and I3 in any appropriate manner as by gluing or otherwise.

The sheet fromwhich the main portion I4 is constructed is laterally extended to form wings I5 and I6 which extend beyond the lateral edges of the envelope and are provided with fold lines I1 and I8 which are coincident with the lateral edges of the envelope.

At the open end of the envelope, as shown in Figure 5, the sheet from which the portion I4 and wings I5 and I6' are formed, is bent back upon itself to form an overlying section I9 which is glued or otherwise secured to the outer face of the portion I 4.

The portion I9 is extended to form a flap or wing portion made up of hinged sections 20 and 2 I, the sections 20 and 2| being integrally formed and joined at. a bend line 22. The section 20 is integrally formed with the portion I9 and is ar ranged to bend on a .bend line 23.

The associated portions I4 and I9 are provided with spaced square or rectangular opening 24 and 25 which give entrance to the envelope.

pocket.

It will be observed that the lateral edges 25' and 26 of the section 20 are in convergingre l-ation from points substantially at the bend line 23 to the bend line 22 so as to bring the end edges of section 2| into inwardly spaced position relative to bendlines I1. and I8 respectively.

As shown in Figure 3, the sections 20 and 2| are provided with a substantially elliptical opening 21 in the section 29 which is contracted at one end to form a displaced cut-out portion 28 in the section 2|. The purpose of this opening will be more readily apparent from the subsequent description.

The section- 2| has fitted therein a pair of spaced lenses 29 and 30 which are arranged, when the sections 20 and 2| are properly folded, as will hereafter be explained in detail, to be cooperatively associated with the windows 24 and 25 to form an optical device commonly known as a stereoscope.

As shown in'Figures 4 and 5, the section 2| is formed by bending the end margin of the material back upon itself to form outside layers 3| and 32 which are disposed on opposite sides of a lens holding strip 33 of any suitable material such as cardboard, metal, fiber, 0r moldable plastic material such as Celluloid.

The Celluloid strip adjacent itsends is provided with circular apertures 34 and35 for receiving the lenses 29 and 3B. The layers of material 3|. and 32 are likewise provided with aligned apertures of slightly less diameters than t the apertures in the lens holding strip so that as to retain them within the openings of the As shown in Figures 3 and 5, the exposed surface of portion I9 and marginal portion of section 20 to adjacent bend line 23' are preferably covered with a black paint or other material 4|) so as to surround the window openings 25 and .25 with a surface'which will not have a tendency to reflect light into the lenses 23 and 3B, vwhen the device is beingused. Also, this blackened area .tends to render the areas surrounding the windows substantially invisible or at least unnoticeable as the indicia in the windows is being viewed. These windows produce the effect of looking through openings at a distant scene or other indicia, and the black areas greatly accentuate the picture.

When the device is assembled to bring the parts-into position to form a stereoscope, the section 20 is swung to a position substantially vertical to the envelope proper, and the section 2| is swung to bring the lenses over the windows 24 and 25, the section2| being substantially at right angles to the section 20 in this position. The wings I5 and II; are then swung to positions substantially at right angles to .the envelope proper and the notches 37 and 38 are connectingly associated with the notches 39 of the wings I5 and I6. It will thus be seen that a box-like arrangement is thus formed and that when complementary indicia such as pictures are disposed in the windows 24 and 25, these pictures will be viewed through the lenses 29 and 30 in relief.

I In looking-through the lenses, it will be apparent that the eyes may be easily disposed over the lenses and that there'will be no interference with the nose or other portions of the face, since the nose may project through opening 21' and the opening 28 in section 2| is so formed as to conveniently fit over the arch of the nose.

' In order to provide for the disposing of successive sets of pictures or other indicia in the windows 24 and 25, there is normally'disposed in the pocket Ill of the envelope a strip or card 4| which will be supported in the envelope for longitudinal sliding movement and may be Withdrawn. The lateral margins on this card bear aligned sets of pictures 42 and 43, or other indicia, which are spaced apart and form complementary sets such that when a picture or indicia-in the row 42 is disposed in window 24 a complementary picture in row 43 will be disposed in window 25. It will, therefore, be evident that as the card 4| is withdrawn from the envelope'successive pictures will be presented in the viewing windows. Since these pictures or indicia may be viewed through the lens s 29 and 3|)"as in the customary stereoscope, the composite picture as seen will be in relief and give the illusion'of depth.

. While inthe present instance only one card is described as being disposed in the pocket of the envelope, it will be readily apparent that a number of cards may be placed therein.

aieaes Althou h the pictures "or other indicia; "are shown in;,Figure; 7 asbeing; isposed on 1 118 01162 surface of the card=-4l:,, it is: contemplated'that these indicia may be: disposed on: bothfsurfaces. of,

. the cardif desired: 1 indicia5may;.fonex= ample, comprise photographs; drawings; and I etc.

- which may bepastedi. or otherwise. secured to the card surfaces.- However, where theeindicia are to be arranged on both sides of the card,,I'

have found itfdesirable.toprovidez aunitary-con- 1 structiongby making the card 4| of aurelatively heavy paper or. other suitablematerial which is? coated onbotlr surfacesrwith'a light sensitive emulsion so. that the pictures. or otherindicia may be printeddirectl'y on: the cardrf'rom suitable negatives. Of course, this'methodmay also if,

desired, beutilized'whe're the indicia'appears on only one surface ofthe card. i

As shown in Figure 5, it will be observed that the uppermost end of the back member I I is pro vided with an integrally formed flap 144 having" at its free edge a tongue 45. When'using the This end of the envelope is further strengthened by, providing segmental wing portions 48 and 49 at its ends which are bent around and,

glued or. otherwise secured to the back portion I l at this end.

As shown in Figure 3, the flap 44 and section I!) and the associated layers of the envelope are cut out as shown at 50 and 5| to enable the card 4! to be easily gripped and withdrawn from the envelope.

Referring to Figure-3, it will be noted that the wing portions l5 and I6 are provided with notches similar to notch 46, these notches being indicated at 52 and 53. Also, the lowermost ends of these wings are provided with projecting tongue portions 54 and 55, the purpose of which will subsequently be evident.

When it is desired to disassemble or knockdown the device so that it may beplaced in a small space for mailing or other purpose, the section 2! is disconnected from the side wings l5 and Hi. The sections 20 and 2| may then be moved to a position where these sections, lie in substantially the same plane and are disposed along the exposed surface of section l4. The

wings I5 and It may then be moved so as to lappingly overlie'sections Z0- and 2L, The'wings are held in this position by inserting the tongue portionsthereof 54 and 55 unde'rthe section 41 which may readily be accomplished since this section is glued only at its end portions. The flap M is then folded over the wing sections 15 and I5, asshown in Figure 2, and the tongue 45 inserted into the slots 52 and 53 which are in registration. With thisarrangement, the device,

is held in disassembled or knocked-down condition and may be sent through the mails or disposed of as desired.

It will be noted that when the flap 44 is in the position just described, this flap also serves to close the open end of the envelope and retain the card 4| therein.

As a modification of the lens structure and lens mounting in section 2|: previously ,described, a

modified arrangement is proposed, wherein the lenses and supporting strip maybe integrally formed-as shown in Figures Sand 9'. i i

In the modified arrangement, the strip 3;3"-,is constructed or a: moldable- .plasticmaterial; for examplefCelluloid; Instead of, however, providing independent. glass lenses, in thisinstancethe supporting ,stripis provided with; thickened por I tions 2.9"and 30" which are soyformed as to protvide integrally formed lenses. 1 In. this arrange-j materially simplified and the lenses maybe promerit, the lens construction and mounting eluted at a' very much lower cost than. if glass l lenses are provided. In the modified structure, the :moldable plastic material would be placed in a suitable die and molded so as tointegrallyform iii.

the lens portion as well as the lensmounting strip, which is similarly notched at its ends as in the lens supporting strip previously described.

Although the present invention has been described in connection with a mailing piece, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the im f vention may with equal facility. be utilized in other arrangements. Also, it will be readily apparent that instead of utilizing pictures tobe viewed through the lenses, other indioia may be used.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that the present invention provides novel means for entertainment, instruction and education; novel mailable message bearing means and mailable souvenirs; a simplified and economical means for reproducing, transmitting and preserving natural vision; a novel optical device which may be utilized for disseminating information such as advertising matter; a novel device wherein a. stereoscope is combined with a mailing I have described in detail apreferred andrnodifled form of theinvention, the invention will not be thus limited, but only insofar as defined by the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In;a device of the character described, a mailing piece, a hinged wing on thefmailing piece, a pair of lenses carried by said wing adapted to be disposed in spaced relationto the mailing piece and contiguous thereto, laterally disposed wings onsaid mailing piece arranged to be folder over said first wing to retainthe lenses contiguous tothe mailing piece and turnable to sub stantially' right angled relation to the mailing piece to engage said hinged wing to support said lenses in spaced relation to the mailing piece, means for interconnecting said laterally disposed wings in said latter position,- and indicia carried by the mailing piece adapted tobe viewed'by the lenses in the latter position. r 2. In a device of the character described, an

envelope having an open end, a pair-of trans- 3 versely spacedwindows in' one side' of said envelope adjacent said open end, a pair of lenses, a support for said lenses hinged on said one side for selective movements to an extendedposition for viewing said windows and a collapsed position contiguous said one side, and

a strip of indicia bearing material in said, envelope longitudinally slidable therefrom to suc cess'ive'ly present the indicia thereon in said win-' dows' for viewing the same through said lenses. vI 3. 'In 'a device of the character described, an envelope having an open end, a pair'of transversely spaced-Windows in one'side'of said envelope adjacent said open end, a pair of lenses, a support for said lenses hinged on'said one side for selective movements to an' extended position for' viewing said'winclows and a collapsed position contiguous said one side, and a strip of indicia bearing material in said envelope longitudinally slidable therefrom to successively present the indicia thereon in said windows for viewin'g:the same through said lenses, the body of said 'envelope extending below the extended hinged support for forming a handle by which the device may be supported for'use; a

4. Ina'device of the character described; an envelope having-- an open end, a pair of transverselv'spaced windows in'one side of said en velopeadjacent said open end,a"pair of lenses, a support forsaid lenses hinged on said one side for' selective movements to an extended position for viewing said windows and a collapsed position contiguous said one side, a strip of indicia bearing-material in said envelope longitudinally slid able therefrom-to successively present the indicia thereon" in saidwindows'for viewing the same through said lenses, and lateral flaps'hinged on said'envelope and foldable over said'lenses and their support for maintaining them in collapsed position against said one side.

- BRANSON.

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